Knockdown steel shelving unit and corner fastening means



April 15, 1969 J, FERDINAND ET AL. 3,4385344 KNOCKDOWN STEEL SHELVINGUNIT AND comma FASTENING MEANS Sheet of14 Filed March 14, 1967 FIG. 4

mm 5 NWT Wm l m F w. N h mm Y 8 2 2 I. 3 m? o ,9 W a 4 4 2 I 2 :2 2 m mF I, w 2 z I" 5 w m A 4 O W 5 WAIIIS April 15, 1969 J. FERDINAND ET AL3,438,344 KNOCKDOWN STEEL SHBLVING UNIT AND CORNER FASTEN Filed March14, 1967 ING MEANS INVENTORS IRWIN J. FERDINAND BY DALE R. LOPATKA ATTYEl lvlilllllltlilll -E u q a I. J. FERDINAND ET AL 3,438,344 KNOCKDOWNSTEEL SHELVING UNIT AND CORNER FASTENING MEANS A ril15, 19 9 Filed March14, 1967 FIG. u

I25 4 aoan 58a 800 2a.

FIG.I5

FIG. I7

XNVENTORS IRWIN J. FERDINAND DALE R. LOP TKA BY MN I ATTYS April 15,1969 m D ET ALv KNOCKDOWN STEEL SHELVING UNIT AND CORNER FASTENING MEANSFiled March" 14, 1967 FIG. l8

l24b BOG INVENTORS IRWIN J. FERDINAND DALE R. LOPATKA United StatesPatent U.S. Cl. 108-410 28 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Knockdownsteel shelving in which a notched shelf flange has a lever arm rotatablethereon, either about a fixed axis or a shifting axis for retracting asliding clamp element fully within the flange confines or extending itto carry latching tongues on it into latching engagement with apertureson corner support posts for locating the shelf at a selected height. Therotatable lever arm eccentrically carries an arcuately moving drivingelement that cams the sliding element about a fixed working axis to drawthe shelf flange into end-abutting rigidifying contact against the postwith the lever arm portion concealed behind the flange, said lever armhaving a hardened offset portion of large diameter rotatably engaging acircular wall of an opening in the Wall.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application,Serial No. 597,344, filed Nov. 28, 1966, now US. Patent 3,392,681.

The present invention relates to knockdown steel shelving in whichcorner notched shelves are adjustably mounted at various levels uponcorner posts and is characterized by a concealed lever pivotally mountedbehind a shelf reinforcing flange to draw the flange endwise intoclamped engagement against the post.

Background The disclosure of said application is hereby expresslyincorporated herein by reference thereto since the present invention isan improvement and modification thereof in that the lever carries acamming arrangement with the follower comprising a sliding membermovable rectilineally in the box flange of the shelf and having hooklikeprotuberances releasably engaging the post in interlocking relationship.

As noted in said application the shelves are rectangular and have sideand end flanges made of prestruck sheet metal blanks rolled in one piecewherein transverse and longitudinal compound flanges of plural thicknessare provided and include marginally rolled box-shaped flanges on atleast the front and back edges that reinforce the shelves. The cornersof the shelves are notched out to expose the ends of the flanges forsquare abutting engagement against the walls of the corner post with theposts clamped in place to prevent end sway of the shelving unit. Asshown in said application for and aft braces may be employed to heldreinforce against sway in that direction if the shelving does restagainst a wall.

Summary The invention provides a simple-to-operate structure andfastening relationship for knockdown shelving that is readily assembledand tightened without tools merely with a manual crank actuation of alever pivotally mounted on an inner wall of a shelf flange engaging thecornot support post. A die formed element slidably mounted in ab0x-shaped shelf flange has tongues provided with head portionsinitially engage: in slots in the corner post and form thereby apreliminary assembly in which the shelves are loosely located at desiredlevels in weight supported relationship. Thereafter the assembly, whentightened, form a rigid, squared self-locking joint between the shelfflange and each corner post merely with a quick manual movement of the:lever to a concealed position behind the flange.

The invention is further characterized by a rotatable support for thelever having a large circumference of rotational support that enablessame to be supported upon a. thin sheet metal wall with the cammingengagement disposed geometrically within the projected bearing area sothat a load upon it at its axis of rotation does not cause any tiltingof the sliding element during operation, the forces exerted beingbalanced between the tongues, they being the elements of forceapplication.

A further structural arrangement of the invention is the retractibilityof the sliding element, and with it the tongue elements, to clear theposts when it is desired to adjust or readjust the shelf level withoutdismantling the shelving.

The invention further contemplates easily stamped sheet metal members inwhich a slide element reciprocated rectilineally by a cam rotatable by acrank lever easily assembled on a shelf flange for clamping intoengagement is with the posts, with the resultant clamping force vectorstriangulated to distribute the stresses developed beween spacedinterlocking members at the post and spread over a substantially largecircular edge of the shelf flange at the cam.

Objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent byreference to the description herein of the structural relationship andadvantages and the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawingswherein the last two like reference numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a knockdown steel shelving unitembodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 11 and 18 are fragmentary perspective views of shelf corners ofunits such as shown in FIG. 1 taken from a point of view within theshelving looking outwardly and upwardly at a corner post with theclamping mechanism in loosened position;

FIGS. 3a and 2 4 are respectively similar to FIGS. 2, l1 and 18 with theclamping mechanism dismantled therefrom;

FIG. 3b is an external front elevational view of the shelf corner of theembodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 11 and 18;

FIGS. 4 and 2 3 are perspective views from the flange side of thepivoted crank levers of FIGS. 2 and 18 respectively as they appearbefore assembly;

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a post section showing the openings by whichan interlocking relation is established in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a section of the post taken at the level of line 65 of FIG. 5showing the interlocking relationship;

FIG. 7a ies a perspective of the cross-head type slider shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7b is a view similar to FIG. 7a showing another embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 8a and 8b are sectional views taken on line 83 of FIG. 2 showingthe sliders of FIGS. 7a or 7b in operative position;

FIG. 9a shows the slider of FIG. 7b in a cross-section with the crank inassembled relation with respect thereof;

FIGS. 9b, 12 and 19 show the sliders of the respective embodiments ofFIGS. 7b, 11 and 18 in medial line sections with the crank lever inassembled relationship with the sliders;

FIG. is a diagrammatical representation of the interaction between theclamping elements shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 13 and 20* is a plan view from inside the shelf showing the cranksof FIGS. 11 and 18 in fully closed shipping position with the slidersfully retracted within the flanges and for location of the shelfheights;

FIGS, 14 and 21 are views similar to FIGS. 13 and 20 showing the slidersin fully extended position for engagement in the corner supports andselected levels;

FIGS. 15 and 22 are views similar to FIGS. 13 and showing the shelfsliders and posts in set position immediately preceding the clampingmovement of the cranks;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the cam element made as a separate partfor the crank shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the crankshown in FIG. 11.

Describing now in further detail the structure and structuralrelationship mentioned and shown in the draw ings, reference is made toFIG. 1 wherein a unit of shelving 10 is shown comprising vertical cornerposts or supports 12, cross members or braces 14, and flanged shelves 16which can be easily located and relocated vertically along the cornersupports 12 without the use of tools. As more particularly shown in saidapplication, a knurled kerf-headed thumb screw 18, usable in two ways,secures the cross braces 14 against the support 12. Since all cornerconstructions under consideration are similar in the shelving in eachembodiment, the following description of one corner in each embodimentrelates to the other corners thereof.

As seen in FIGS 2 and 3, taken partly from below,

looking towards a notched shelf corner at 23, the structure of the shelf16 includes a flat portion 21) bordered by depending side and endreinforcing flanges 22 and 24, respectively. The end flange 24 of theshelf may or may not be roll-formed but preferably is shown as having areverse bend 26 to avoid contact with any sharp sheet metal edges.

The side flange 22 is preferably box-shaped in construction andcomprises an outer wall 28 and an inner wall 30 connected by a bottomribbed wall 32 and a dual thickness top wall 34. Outer wall 28 in FIG.3b may be provided with a shallow terminal recess 36 bordered by contactears 38 which ensure a square abutment between flange 22 and the cornersupport 12 (FIG. 2). The inner wall 30 has vertically spacedlongitudinally extending upper and lower ribs 40 and 42 that laterallystrengthen the flange 22 and is apertured near its end to provide anopening 44 whose dimension transversely of the flange is preferablyapproximately one-half the height of the flange exposed below the fiatportion 20 of the shelf. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a the opening44 has circular ends 46 and 48 preferably with the end wall 48 having aslightly sharper curve at 49. In the other embodiments the openings 44a(FIGS. 12 and 19) are circular. See FIG, 24 intersecting the ribs 40 and42. In both the force bearing area is extensive, self centering andangularly compliant.

As viewed in FIGS. 2, 4, 8 and 9 a lever or crank 50 is mounted forrotational operation in the opening 44. The crank is struck from heavysheet metal to provide at one end an outwardly drawn oval or egg-shapedoffset defining a wall portion 58 and a bottom wall 60 with a boss 62having a sharper curve remote from the handle that is rotatably andslidably received in aperture 44. A flat handle portion 52 with inwardlyturned finger grip wings 54 and outwardly struck detents 56 is providedat its free end. Eccentrically of the boss in the direction of and inapproximate alignment with the handle 52, the bottom wall 60' is piercedand upset to provide a cylindrical crank bearing surface 64 throughwhich a rivet member 66 is received having a head 68 at one end. Thehead provides a terminal flange at 70, and the shank is upset at theother end, as at 72, to hold the head 70 in place.

As the wall 58 of the boss 62 is rotated at least a quarter turn in thedirection of the arrow (FIG. 10) from its released or loosened position,shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3a in solid lines, to the position shownin solid lines in FIG, 10, not only is the crank surface 64 of the rivetmember 66 displaced to the right, about a theoretical axis 53 withrespect to the aperture 4-4, but the sharper curve 49 of the majorradius further displaces the crank surface 64- by displacing thetheoretical axis 53 in the same direction to 53a when the handle 52 ofthe crank Si) is moved to its closed position parallel with the flange22 (FIG. 10).

The curvature of the right half of the egg-shaped boss 62 as shown inFIG. 10 is circular with a minor radius about the theoretical axis 53.The contour of the lower section of the aperture 44 at its left end iscircular with said minor radius centered at the axis when the boss isapproximately 90 clockwise from its position shown in FIG. 10. Thecontour of the upper section of the aperture 44 at the left end iscircular with said major radius centered on the axis located as shown at53a with the boss disposed in its clamping position. Thus the lower halfof the aperture supports the cam as it moves when the crest of the bosscam contour is rotated counter-clockwise to displace flange 22 and thetheoretical axis 53 with respect to each other in clamping relationship.The structure described as the left hand is that portion nearest thesupport 12. At the opposite end of the flange 22, it is the right handportion, the boss 60 being symmetrical about its major diameter and theaperture 44 being symmetrical on opposite sides of its verticalcenterline.

The member actuated by the crank 54 is a sliding member 74 which isstruck also from heavy sheet metal stock and formed to have parallelspacer elements or flanges 76 on opposite sides of a flat portion 78, ina relationship with the flanges on one side as shown in FIG. 7a or theflanges divided for disposal on opposite sides as shown at 76a in FIG.7b. The flanges slide is guided relation between and upon the upper andlower walls 34- and 32 of the flange 22 like a cross head member. Whenthe flanges 76 are all on one side (FIG. 7a) the end edges of the member74 are offset in the direction opposite to the flanges as at 80. Theoverall effective thickness of the sliding members as measured acrossthe combined Widths of flanges 76a, or the combined width of flange 76and the height of offsets 80, is such that the sliding element slidessnugly between the inner and outer walls 30 and 28 of the flange 22.

Intermediate its ends the sliding element 74, 7441 or 74b is providedwith a cross-slot 82 having an enlargement 84 intermediate its ends onthe side nearest the end of the flange 22 and a camming wall 85 oppositethereto. At its end nearest the flange, the sliding element and thesupport are provided with a catch means or relationship in which thesliding element is provided with tongues 86 that are located proximateto its flanges which tongues have offsets 38 struck therein to provideshoulders 96. The corner supports 12 have spaced slots as shown in FIG.5 having centrally widened positions 24. These tongues and shoulders asshown in FIG. 6 are received through the slots 92 in the support at thewidened portions 94 of the slots and then displaced downwardly todispose the shoulders behind the narrow portion 25 of the slots wherethey are offset at inwardly to work-harden and structurally reinforcethe metal engaged by the shoulders 90. It will be observed that theslots are constructed with double ended narrow slots to accommodate thetongues regardless of which end of the support or post is uppermost.

It will be noted that all posts may be faced forwardly at both the frontand back of the shelving and the sliding elements 22 can be inverted inthe box flange at the back corners of the shelves, or, the wide portion94 of the slot can be provided on both sides of the slot 92 for completeuniversality.

In the utilization of the elements and structure described, the slidingelement 74 can be slipped into the box flange 22 either edge up untilthe slot 82 appears in the aperture 44 and then the offset 58 of thecrank 50' is slipped through the aperture 44 with the head 70 of therivet member 66 received through and beyond the enlargement '84 in theslot 82. The relative position of the handle 52 will be about parallelwith the flange 22 and once the bearing 64 coincides with the plane ofthe slot 82, the handle can either be left there for shipping with theslider fully retracted or moved to a crosswise position for mounting theshelf. The detent 56 engages in the groove of the lower rib 42 topreserve the parallel assembly.

Whenever it is desired to mount the shelf, or dismantle the shelf, thehandle is moved to a position crosswise of the flange, the tongues 86are advanced into engagement with the support slots 92 and lowered intoweigh-t supporting position. Thereafter the wall portion 58 engages theend 48 of the aperture 44 and clamps the support against the end of theflange 22 in rigidifying supported relationship as the handle isreturned to its position parallel with the flange where it is concealedbehind the flange 22. This is done at all four corners of each shelfuntil the shelving is assembled.

In event it is desired to relocate a shelf at a new level withoutdisturbing the set spacing of the supports, the cranks for that shelfare turned downwardly and moved away from the supports to carry the wallportion 58 into contact with the end 46 of the apertures 44. At thispoint the tongues are fully retracted far enough to clear the supports12. The shelf is then moved to its new level, the cranks reactivatedoutwardly to insert the tongues in the selected slots and then turned totheir clamping position as already described.

Whichever way the offsets 88 and flanges are faced in their manufacture,it is desired that the end of the shelf flange 24 be located and heldclose to the support 12 by the tongues in relation to the flanges 76,76a and the offset 80 to establish and hold a snug and tightrelationship at each shelf corner, it being appreciated that the cammingaction of the bearing surface 64 in the slot 82 against the wall 85exerts a force magnifying effort upon the sliding member when it reachesdead center of its closing movement as when the crank 50 is parallel tothe flat portion 2 0 of the shelf. Further, it will be noted that theresulting force effort of the camming action exerted by the bearingsurface in the slot is exerted at a point geometrically triangulatedwith the tongues to exert equal forces upon the tongues, the flanges 76or 76a slidably retaining the sliding member against any cocking actionduring the application of the triangulated forces. Furthermore in orderto assist against any possible cocking action the curvature of thecircular end wall 48 of the aperture 44 is slightly larger asrepresented by the broken line 58a so that mutual engagement occursintermediate the ribs 42 and 40 and yields slightly on a circular curveto establish a self centering heavy resilient strain between the clampedparts.

The movable distance between the end walls 46 and 48 is approximatelythe exposed length of the tongues and permits the relative movement ofthe sliding member 74 that is necessary to retract the tongues 86 frominterference with the support if the shelf is to be relocated.Furthermore, it will be observed that the clamping elements are confinedto a single wall and because of this the external appearance of thejoint between the shelf and support is clean in appearance and concealedfrom conventional view, yet manual operation required is readilydetected and understood upon inspection.

Referring now to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 and 18, the structureand principles of operation are quite similar except that the cranksrotate on the box flange on a fixed axis and the sliders have theelongated aperture disposed lengthwise for relative extension andretraction in cooperation therewith. Elements carried by the crankspreferably provide positive advance and retraction of the slider byoperation of the crank as well as a positive clamping relationship.

In FIG. 11 an embodiment is shown in which the bottom of the offsetposition 58a, sometimes referred to as a boss, on the crank 50a, has adual depth draw, the shallow portion defining a circular externalbearing surface 102 (FIG. 12) and the deeper portion 103 (FIG. 13)having a central opening 105 and defining a portion having two parallelarranged flat portions on its sides providing wrench like surfaces 104.A drive plate 106 similar in external shape to that of the plate 108shown in FIG. 16 has its center punched out as a socket with flatportions at 110 (FIG. 13) mating with the external shape of the deeperportion 103 to be recieved thereon in wrenching relation. A portion ofthe edge of the plate defines a cam surface 112 and circumferentiallyspaced therefrom the plate is provided with a radial finger 114terminally bent from the plane thereof to provide a driving ear 116.

The slider 74a in this embodiment has book-like tongues 86a received invertically spaced slots 94a offset inwardly on the corner posts 12a forstrength as indicated at 118 in FIG. 12. A longitudinal slot 82a isprovided in the slider 74a at the level of the center aperture 105 ofthe crank and the lower edge is notched as at 120 to clear the drivingcar 116. The notch is otherwise shaped to provide a square shoulder 122engaged by the driving car 116 for projecting the tongues 86a beyond theend of the box flange 22 as shown in FIG. 14 and an inclined shoulder124 engaged by the driving ear 116 to retract the tongues 86a fullywithin the box flange as shown in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the slider 74a is provided with a diestruck tab 125 which serves as a follower engaged by said cam 112 whenthe tongues 86a engage in slots 94 and the crank 52 is moved from the:position shown in FIG. 14 to the fully clamped position shown in FIG.15.

For purposes of ready assembly and the disposition of the parts tocooperate as indicated, the slider is further provided with spacers 80ato guide the slider in the flange and a rivet type element 126 isslipped into the slot 82a and receives the driven plate 106 looselythereon as the assembly is slipped into the open end of the flange to apoint where the rivet shank 128 is at the center of the opening 100.Thereupon the deeper wrench portion 103 of the crank cavity is slippedover the shank 128 into mating engagement with the punched out socket110. The rivet head is then backed by a suitable production tool (notshown) and a spring nut 13th is pressed on the shank to secure theassembly with the bearing surface 102 of the crank journalled in theopening 44a on the inner wall 30 of the box flange to operate asindicated.

In FIGS. 16 and 17 the bottom of the crank offset cavity 58c isintegrally made with a spring nut 130a and the drive plate is centrallyapertured to receive the rivet 126 there through. The drive in thisinstance comprises two diametrical openings 132 in the bottom of thecavity 580 and two pierced upturned ears 134 on the drive plate 106areceived in said openings when assembled. The wrench drive operation ofthis embodiment is otherwise as described in connection with FIGS. 1215.

In FIGS. 18-23 the embodiment is one in which the driver plate 106!) andthe crank 52]; are formed integrally. In the forming operation thebottom 58b of the offset cavity is partially cut and drawn from thesheet metal of the crank 50]) as shown in which an arm 1314b extendingradially from the bottom 58b is sheared and then offset as the cavity isdeepened to the depth shown. Part of the sheering provides a cam edge112k around a central opening 1051) at the initial portion of theforming die stroke and with the die elements (not shown) remaining inthe opening 105b, the forming portion of the die is advanced to providethe circular wall 192,]; of the cavity that is journalled in the opening44a of the box flange 22 leaving the cam edge 1121) in position toengage a cam follower 125]) provided on the slider 7417. An oppositelydirected tab 140 lies in the path of movement of the arm l14b.

In assembly, the slider 74b is inserted into the box flange 22 with asleeve rivet 12Gb in the slot 8%. The arm ll4b is then slipped throughthe opening 44a and the bottom 58b is lowered with its opening 105!)over the sleeve rivet as they move centrally into the opening 44a.

Thereafter the sleeve rivet is lifted and backed up by a suitableproduction tool and the open end is spread into a clover leaf expansion144 to lock the .parts in operative assembly. This assembly is one inwhich the slider 74b is fully retracted in FIG. 20 by the end of the arm114]; engaging a tapering edge 146 of the cam follower 1124b forshipping or vertical adjustment of the shelves. When a desired level isreached during shelf assembly the crank is moved clockwise as shown inFIG. 21, the arm 114!) engages the tab 140 and drives the slider andtongues outwardly to enter and drop into place in slots 94a. Thereuponthe crank is turned counter clockwise as shown in FIG. 22. The cam 11212engages the follower 146 and clamps the tongues 86b in place rigidifyingthe shelving as already explained. If desired a plastic cover 148 (FIG.18) can be snapped into place to cover the cavity 58b to finish off itsappearance. The cover 148 is shown in broken lines 148 in FIGS. 19-22.

From the description and the drawings, it will be noted by those skilledin the art how the stated objects are attained; how the walls of theapertures 94 and 94a when offset inwardly as at 118 not only strengthenthe clamping relations-hip by arching and work hardening the postelements but the side Walls of the apertures guide the tongues intoinsertion in the apertures; how the elements 114 and 54 of the severalembodiments are located radial on the same side of the bosses 58 and onopposite sides of the apertures 44; how the elements are easilyconstructed, assembled and used; but also how various changes andmodifications can be made for different production techniques includingcastings as well as sheet metal stampings within the spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knockdown shelving construction comprising an upright postmember having aperture means through a wall portion thereof, a shelfhaving a horizontal portion and a depending flange member terminallyabutting said wall portion with a side wall having an aperture thereinrounded adjacent to the post, a clamp device interconnecting saidmembers including a lever having a boss element with a circular portionpivotally journalling in said rounded aperture, an elongated elementslidably supported for rectilineal movement on said flange member, acrank protuberance located on one of said elements, a cam wall on theother of said elements receiving said crank protuberance in a slidablerelationship, and catch means on said elongated :member releasablyengaging in said aperture means to draw said flange endwise tightlyagainst said post upon rotation of said lever moving said protuberanceaway from said post.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said flange member isa box flange and said side wall thereof is the inner side wall, saidelongated member and said crank protuberance being located in the spacebetween the side walls of said box flange member.

3. The combination called for in claim 2 in which said elongated membershave vertically spaced marginal flanges slidably mounted between the topand bottom walls of said box flange in guided relationship.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said elongated memberslidably engages said side wall with the rectilineal movement .parallelto the wall and perpendicular to the post member, said catch meanscomprising vertically spaced tongues .and said crank protuberance beingdisposed at a level between said tongues.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said protuberance hasa head upon its outer end and said cam wall comprises one wall of a slothaving an enlargement for receiving said head therethrough located onthe side thereof adjacent its said post.

6. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said aperture iselongated longitudinally of said flange member for movement of said bosstherein a distance approximately the height of said catch meansextending beyond the end of said flange member in its aperture engagingposition.

7. The combination called for in claim 2 in which said elongated memberhas laterally directed spacing means along its upper and lower edgesslidably supporting the intermediate portion in spaced relationship fromthe inner wall to rest slidably against the free end of said boss withsaid crank protuberance in engagement with said cam wall.

8. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said catch meansincludes tongues projecting from the central portion of the elongatedelement with a portion thereof laterally offset to engage behind a wallportion when said tongues are inserted through said aperture means andmoved laterally with respect thereto.

9. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said catch meanscomprise two vertically spaced projections engaging said aperture meansand said crank protuberance is disposed at a working level between saidprojections.

19. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said lever comprisesa flat central portion bordered by finger engageable wings at one endand an oifset depression and the other end externally defining asubstantially cylindrical surface of revolution journalled in saidaperture and a bottom wall eccentrically carrying a crank protuberanceengaging said cam wall, said eccentricity being aligned with said lever.

'11. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said boss issubstantially egg-shaped with the circular portion disposed on the crankprotuberance side of the boss and defining a minor radius, said aperturehaving a width transversely of the flange approximately equal to themajor diameter of the boss.

12. The combination called for in claim 1 including a latchingengagement between said lever and said flange member including areceiving element on one of them and a detent member on the other ofthem interengaging when said lever is coincident with said flange.

13 In a knockdown shelving construction comprising an upright postmember, a shelf having a flange member disposed normal to a side of apost and having an aperture therein adjacent to the post member, meansfor clamping said members together in assembled relation including alever means having a boss journalled in said aperture and a planarportion bordering the boss supported on the flange member, eccentricmeans on said boss, and an element slidably supported on said flangemember releasable engaging said post and engaging said eccentric meansfor actuation by rotary movement of the boss by the lever in onedirection to clamp said flange member endwise against said side of thepost under shelf rigidifying pressure.

14. The combination called for in claim 13 in which said eccentric meansis a cam element and said slidable element includes a cam followerengaged by said cam element.

15. The combination called for in claim 14 in which said lever meansincludes a drive element engaging said elongated element for moving saidslidable element into and out of engagement with said post member whensaid cam and cam follower are out of engagement.

16. The combination called for in claim 14 in which said boss has anopening in the bottom thereof and said slidable element has an elongatedaperture therein registering with said opening, means extending throughsaid opening and said elongated aperture to retain said cam and followerin assembled cooperating relationship and with said planar portionengaging said flange member retaining the assembled cam and follower inoperative position on said flange member with respect to said postmember.

17. The combination called for in claim 14 in which said means on saidboss includes a plate on the bottom of the boss defining said cam, anddrive means interconnecting said boss and plate for unitary operationthereof.

18. The combination called for in claim 15 in which said cam element andsaid drive element are integrally formed as part of the bottom of saidboss, said drive element extending radially beyond the journal of saidboss.

19. In a knockdown shelving construction comprising an upright postmember having aperture means through a wall portion thereof, a shelfhaving a horizontal portion and a depending flange member terminallyabutting said wall portion with a side wall having an aperture thereinrounded adjacent to the post, a clamp device interconnecting saidmembers including a lever having a boss journalled in said roundaperture, an elongated element slidably supported for rectilinealmovement on said flange member, catch means on said elongated memberreleasably engaging in said aperture means, means interengaging saidlever and elongated element to draw said flange endwise tightly againstsaid post upon rotation of said lever.

20. The combination called for in claim 19 in which said interengagingmeans includes cam and follower elements moving the elongated elementaway from said post member upon movement of said lever in a positionbehind said flange.

21. The combination called for in claim 20 in which said lever and bossinclude two members engaging each other to move the catch means towardssaid post by movement of the lever towards said post for releasing saiddraw.

22. The combination called for in claim 19 in which said aperture has adimension transversely of the flange member approximately one-half thewidth of the flange exposed below said horizontal shelf portion.

23. The combination called for in claim 19 in which said dependingflange member side wall has vertically spaced longitudinally extendingreinforcing ribs and said aperture intersects portions of at least tworibs.

24. The combination called for in claim 19 in which said dependingflange member has a longitudinally extending reinforcing rib intersectedat least in part by said aperture, and said lever has a planar portionaround said boss in engagement with said reinforcing rib.

25. Thet combination called for in claim 19 in which said aperture meansof the post members comprises vertically spaced elongated apertureshaving end and lateral walls bordering the apertures and work hardenedoifset in a direction away from said flange member to guide said catchmeans into engagement in said apertures.

26. In a knockdown shelving construction comprising an upright postmember having aperture means through a wall portion thereof, a shelfhaving a horizontal portion and a depending flange member terminallyabutting said wall portion with a side wall having an aperture thereinwith rounded contour adjacent to the post, a clamp deviceinterconnecting said members including a lever having a boss with arounded portion journalling in said rounded aperture, cam means locatedeccentrically on said boss, an elongated element slidably supported forrectilineal movement on said flange member and having a follower meansengaged by said cam means operable in relative rotating relationship,and clamp means on said elongated member releasably engaging in saidaperture means to draw said flange endwise tightly against said postupon rotation of said lever moving said follower means away from saidpost.

27. The combination called for in claim 25 in which said elongatedmembers have vertically spaced laterally disposed spacers slidablymounted. between the top and bottom walls of said box flange to hold theelongated members in guided relationship on said side wall.

28. The combination called for in claim 25 in which aperture meansinclude vertically spaced openings and said clamp means includes tonguesprojecting from the elongated element for insertion through saidopenings olfset to engage behind a wall portion bordering two of saidopenings when moved outwardly with respect thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,053,996 2/1913 Isbell 1081071,679,995 8/1928 Bartholomew 292 2,896,794 7/1959 Jarvis 108-l07 XR2,909,289 10/1959 Laurie 108107 XR 3,081,717 3/1963 Yureriah 108-1073,276,403 10/1966 Ferdinand et al. 108-106 XR 3,332,374 7/ 1967Ferdinand et al. 108-107 3,392,689 7/1968 Ferdinand et a1. 108107 BOBBYR. GAY, Primary Examiner. G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

